Monday, June 27, 2016

You want to shed weight for an upcom-ing event. Do you (1) accept how you look and detag Facebook pics later, (2) stop eating, or (3) follow our simple plan? Yeah, we thought so.

Cosmo has come up with a fat-torching plan that really will subtract up to 5 pounds from your bod in seven days — without starvation, bizarre supplements, or cutting out entire food groups. How? It's all about small sacrifices combined with specific techniques. And rather than giving you a one-size-fits-all regimen, we figure you're more likely to stick with the plan if you pick the eating and exercise strategies that fit your lifestyle.

What do chia seeds, pears, and chickpeas have in common? They’re all hydrophilic, or high in filling soluble fiber. Here’s why you should be eating more of them, according to the new book The HD Diet.

The Power of Water-Absorbent, Hydrophilic Foods

Think about a kitchen sponge—the hard, dry one that sits on the top corner of your sink. Place it under running water and it’s instantly revitalized. Water-absorbent foods—all rich in soluble fiber—will have the same effect on you. When you eat these foods, they dissolve and form a gel in your intestines. This gel improves the way your body processes carbohydrates, and it decreases insulin production by slowing glucose absorption. Translation: When you ingest foods with soluble fiber, it stops nasty cravings by keeping your blood sugar levels steady. Here are 10 of my favorite hydrophilic foods that have been staples in my nutrition practice.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

You know the drill when it comes to losing weight: take in fewer calories, burn more calories. But you also know that most diets and quick weight-loss plans don't work as promised. If you're trying to drop a few pounds fast, these expert tips will make it easy for you to lose the weight quickly.

1. Write down what you eat for one week and you will lose weight.

Studies found that people who keep food diaries wind up eating about 15 percent less food than those who don’t. Watch out for weekends: A University of North Carolina study found people tend to consume an extra 115 calories per weekend day, primarily from alcohol and fat. Then cut out or down calories from spreads, dressings, sauces, condiments, drinks, and snacks; they could make the difference between weight gain and loss.
Need major weight-loss motivation? Here’s the secret weight-loss advice used by the folks onThe Biggest Loser and other reality shows.

When RPZL, a new hair extension and blowout bar in New York, offered to let me try a new type of hair extensions, I jumped at the chance. I've had long hair in the past, but I'm currently in the process of growing out a pixie cut, and it is trying my patience.

So I opted for RPZL Next, which uses ultrasonic waves to bond keratin attachments to your actual hair. Like heat-applied keratin extensions, RPZL Next lasts at least three months, but unlike tape extensions, they're attached via individual wefts rather than in strips.

If you, too, are having growing-out woes, or if you just want to add body to already-long locks, you might want keratin-bonded extensions. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what you can expect from the process.

Bouncy, defined, and frizz-free curls are what every naturally curly-haired woman dreams of — especially in the middle of Summer, when the combination of extreme humidity and lackluster products can make it nearly impossible. Out of frustration, my superthick, curly hair typically ends up in either a bun or a braid. However, this Summer, I'm giving up my go-to hairstyles and embracing my natural coils with the help of products such as an amazing lightweight supercream, an insanely moisturizing deep conditioner, and a gel for those unavoidable updo days. These nine hair products will help you and your mane get through the Summer with dream-worthy curls.

Friday, June 24, 2016

If you're anything like us, you have absolutely no idea how some women can restrict themselves to just a weekly red manicure. There are so many possibilities for rad manicures out there . . . and when a holiday rolls around, you can bet we're on DIY overdrive. So we say, the Fourth of July isn't just about the celebration of America's b-day, but of creative freedom! Express yourself like the talented artists of social media — we've selected some of our favorite Independence Day nail inspiration from Instagram and Twitter just for you.

There's a certain tragedy to the fact that summer, the most skin-baring season of all, is also the season when many of us struggle most with body acne. In addition to sunscreen (a year-round must) and the body's naturally amped-up oil production in the warmer months, sweat is also a major factor in those pesky back and chest zits. There's a lot you can do during the day to help stave off acne-causing bacteria (showering nightly, changing out of sweaty clothes, using body washes with pimple-fighting salicylic acid). But if you live somewhere where central air-conditioning isn't the standard (looking at you, New York City), sweaty nights may be a whole separate battle.Read more

We first discovered Cait's stunning transformation photos on the TIU community pages. From there, we saw her Instagram, in which you can see a day in the life of Cait — her workouts, healthy eats, and happy, healthy lifestyle. But we wanted the full scoop: What was her story? Where did she begin, and how did she get here?read more

Sunday, June 12, 2016

If you're lucky, you learn a little something every time you leave a relationship. Sure, sometimes that lesson is less "life is beautiful" and more "don't date EDM DJs," but still. A recent AskReddit thread prompted users to answer the most important things they've learned from past relationships and the results are definitely worth implementing with your next/current boo.

Céline Dion is releasing a wide-ranging lifestyle line, including clothing, accessories, beauty, and home furnishings. This means when you belt out Céline ballads alone at home, you can soon live out the full "All By Myself" experience.

The line is unnamed for now—they're calling it "Céline Dion" as a placeholder, according toBillboard.

Faced with a wall of hair color boxes at your local drugstore and the very real prospect of getting things terribly wrong, you may decide to just give your strands and paycheck over to a professional. But it is possible to take the process into your own hands and get it right in the comfort of your own bathroom. We asked a couple of pros to spill the secrets to dyeing done right.read more

Thursday, June 9, 2016

We all put on makeup (at least some of the time), but is your technique yielding the best possible results? Here, Kimberly Soane, the director of artistry at Bobbi Brown, offers up some simple pointers to make sure we're using everything from concealer to bronzer to mascara right.Read more

Pastel rainbow hair is our favorite variation of the trend — when done well, it looks like a unicorn's mane. And while you may associate light, vibrant strands with warmer weather, you'll want to rock this take on colorful coifs all Winter long. Introducing macaron hair! Shelley Gregory, colorist of Atelier Salon in Las Vegas, created this breathtaking look. "I wanted the hair to look and feel like walking into Laduree, the French macaron shop," Gregory explained.

To create this look, Gregory hand-painted different hues of pastel colors in layers onto segments of hair. It's similar to the sand art technique, but the softer shades leave the client's mane more romantic — not to mention multidimensional and totally dreamy. "The color stands out and looks trendy, but it's still chic and approachable," Gregory explained.

After years of the same routine, putting on your makeup in the morning gets a little blah, even when it comes to lipstick. To the cosmetics aficionado, red, pink, nude, and even orange start to feel basic. That's why we fully embrace the rainbow beauty trend. Colorful lips are the easiest way to shake up a bland regimen. No need to commit to a wild dye job or even tinted eyebrows – just swipe on a funky lipstick. If you don't like it, just switch to a different shade!

To get you started, we outlined six fun shades with tips on how to wear them and shopping suggestions so you can test the look out yourself. You might want to use a music festival as an excuse to wear your new lipsticks, but we guarantee you'll find them so fun, you'll wear them for everyday occasions.Read more

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Since age 11, I've had problem skin. I remember a photo taken of me at the Fall seventh grade dance that ended up, to my great misfortune, in the back of the school yearbook. The picture (which used flash, mind you) zeroed in on my frizzy hair, my rainbow clothing, and, perhaps most embarrassing, an ultragreasy T-zone and preadolescent pimples dotted along my forehead and cheeks, aggravated by the sea of sweaty bodies in which I was engulfed. Good times.

Balance calories in tiny ways that add up to big benefits: You just adopt some tricks naturally lean people do. Pick the ones you like, stick with them, and you’ll slim down and tone up—for good.

When your eyes open, sit up slowly without usin your hands. With legs straight out, lean forward until you feel a gentle stretch in your back and hamstrings. Hold; then, using your abs, lower yourself flat. Rest and repeat two more times. Strengthens core. These are other morning habits of naturally thin people.

When starting a weight-loss plan, you may want to cut out as many calories as possible; yet Mayo Clinic warns against this tactic. Going more than four hours between meals can leave blood sugar in the basement and you feeling lifeless. A healthy and well-planned diet allows for snacking. Try noshing on fruits and veggies with hearty fiber to fill you up. Here are some healthier snack ideas.Read more

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Gigi Hadid has quickly become America's Sweetheart of the modeling world—with her California Girl good looks and sunny disposition—but her style says bonafide bombshell. Hadid knows how to dress her curves—from midriff-baring two pieces, to curve-hugging dresses and plunging necklines. The top model even makes a white t-shirt and jeans look totally sexy. Hey, if you got it, flaunt it. Click through to see her best looks, plus shop model off duty must-haves on ShopBAZAAR.

Beyoncé is the recipient of this year's CFDA Fashion Icon Award. The honor was presented to the singer tonight by designer Diane Von Furstenberg.

"I feel so much love and I feel so proud right now," she said while accepting her award in a pinstriped, crystal-embellished Givenchy suit and a "Formation"-style wide-brim hat. "Thank you guys for this incredible honor."

Monday, June 6, 2016

For years now, we've been conditioned to correlate a high thread count with high quality in bed sheets, but it turns out there are far more important quality metrics than thread count. In fact, sheets with a low thread count but high-quality fiber can actually be better than sheets with high thread count and low-quality fiber. To learn what we should really be paying attention to when shopping for sheets, we spoke to the experts at luxury bedding company CULTIVER.

If you battle insomnia, chronic stress, or any other health-related issue that affects how you sleep, you may be interested to learn more about how technology can aid in your nightly disturbances. Turns out, there are several available apps that work to provide you solid rest in a variety of ways. Check out the seven creative tools ahead — they certainly can't hurt to try.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Pain that signals a life-threatening condition is usually intense, starts abruptly, and is associated with a number of other symptoms and signs. Here are six pain symptoms that require immediate attention.

The waistline is the top body part that both men and women say they are most self-conscious about. Here are simple ways to lose belly fat and get a flat stomach for good!

You know the drill when it comes to losing weight: take in fewer calories, burn more calories. But you also know that most diets and quick weight-loss plans don't work as promised. If you're trying to drop a few pounds fast, these expert tips will make it easy for you to lose the weight quickly.

Anyone with a concussion should be checked by a health care professional if at all possible. If you’re the one with the injury, don’t rely solely on your own assessment for signs you’re getting worse and need reevaluation. These signs of concussion should never be ignored.

If the victim is not attentive and fully oriented within at least 30 minutes after the trauma, that’s a big concern.

Whether you go for a classic, Risky Business-style Wayfarer or the mirrored shades celebs are loving right now, you need to be sure they protect your peepers. First, make sure your shades have 100% UV protection to filter both UVA and UVB rays—this is the most important thing you can do to save your eyes. You can further protect yourself with oversized and wraparound frames that offer more coverage to protect the soft tissue around your eyes (which can help prevent wrinkles). Finally, you have the option of choosing polarized lenses, which make it easier to see in very bright conditions and can keep eyestrain at bay. The following 10 sunglasses pass the test—your eyes will thank you later.Read more

While the rest of us are dreaming about summer vacation, Mother Nature is working like crazy—and there’s no time like the present to fill your plate with healthy, delicious seasonal eats. Keep your eyes peeled for these local stars when you’re at the farmers’ market or skimming a menu.Read more

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Decking your nails out in seasonal and patterned designs is fun, but there's nothing more chic and timeless than a classic nude manicure. But if you occasionally want to give your manicure an understated punch, pale nails aren't limited to one solid coat. We've rounded up simple yet inventive neutral nail art ideas for when your minimal lacquer needs a little excitement. Look through to get inspired.

Jennifer Widerstrom knows a thing or two about weight loss. On NBC’s The Biggest Loser, she has a perfect winning average after coaching two winners to the podium (including last season's Roberto Hernandez). Widerstrom's speciality? Helping her clients create a tailored plan that works for them. We asked the trainer, 33, for her best tips on slimming down—and staying that way. (A recent study on people who successfully competed on The Biggest Loser highlighted how tremendously difficult it is to keep the weight off.)Read more

For many women, menopause brings with it the onset of sexual pain. This wasn't much of an issue in the past when women didnt live so long. "In 1900, the average woman died at 51 years of age," says sexual medicine specialist Andrew Goldstein, MD, an associate professor at George Washington University.Read more

"Vulvo-whatia?"said Carrie Bradshaw on HBOs Sex and the City, when her friend Charlotte was diagnosed with vulvodyniadefined as otherwise unexplained pain, itching, and burning of a womans exterior genitals. A 2006 study quoted by the National Institutes of Health's Office of Research on Women's Health estimated that as many as 18% of women experience symptoms consistent with the condition.read more